The energy that makes the water cycle work primarily comes from the sun. Solar energy heats the Earth’s surface, which includes oceans, lakes, and rivers. This warming effect causes water to evaporate, transforming from liquid to vapor.
As water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down and condenses to form clouds. When the clouds become heavy with moisture, this precipitation falls back to the ground in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. This process is continuous, driven by the sun’s energy, cycling water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Thus, solar energy is the fundamental force that powers the water cycle, maintaining the balance of ecosystems and regulating the climate on our planet.